UK farmers warned about bluetongue outbreaks
"There is quite strong evidence that with the outbreak in France - and the potential weather situation - it could move to the southern part of the UK in 2016."
Livestock farmers are being urged to prepare for the possibility of a bluetongue outbreak in the UK this year.
There have been recent outbreaks of serotype 8 (BTV-8) in the Allier region of central France. These are the first cases to be confirmed in the EU since 2011.
While Defra has said the risk to the UK is low, the National Farmers Union (NFU) is warning that factors including rising temperatures and wind direction could increase the threat over the coming months.
An unusually warm winter is believed to have facilitated the virus's spread in France.
At an NFU Council meeting, livestock board chairman Charles Sercombe said the union is in talks with Defra and APHA about the likelihood of bluetongue reaching the UK, Farmers Weekly reports.
"There is quite strong evidence that with the outbreak in France - and the potential weather situation - it could move to the southern part of the UK in 2016," he is quoted as saying at a recent NFU Council meeting.
NFU is working to ensure the vaccine is available for UK farmers in time for spring. In previous outbreaks, Defra has subsidised the vaccine cost but it is likely that the industry will have to cover the costs this time, Mr Sercombe added.
Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.
